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Safety and efficacy of low-temperature RA-flush solution in patients with moderate-to-severe calcified lesions
Wei You1, Xiang-Qi Wu1, Zhi-Ming Wu1
1Department of Cardiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 68 Changle Road, Nanjing City, 210006, Jiangsu Province, China.
Insights
Using a low-temperature flush solution during rotational atherectomy (RA) significantly reduces myocardial injury and complications like slow-flow or coronary spasm compared to room-temperature solutions. This finding improves the safety of RA for treating calcified lesions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Interventional Cardiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Rotational atherectomy (RA) is a key treatment for calcified coronary lesions.
- RA-related myocardial injury remains a significant concern, impacting patient outcomes.
- Current RA protocols lack standardized methods to mitigate this risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of using a low-temperature versus room-temperature flush solution during RA.
- To determine if temperature modification of the RA-flush solution can reduce myocardial injury and related complications.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 132 patients with moderate-to-severe calcified lesions undergoing RA.
- Patients were assigned to receive either a low-temperature or room-temperature RA-flush solution.
- Myocardial injury was assessed by monitoring cardiac biomarkers (cTnI, CK-MB) post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Main Results:
- The low-temperature group showed significantly lower rates of myocardial injury (elevated cTnI and CK-MB) compared to the room-temperature group.
- Incidence of RA-related transient slow/no flow and coronary spasm was significantly reduced in the low-temperature group.
- No significant difference in RA-related myocardial infarction (MI) was observed between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Low-temperature RA-flush solution is associated with reduced RA-related myocardial injury.
- This approach offers a potential strategy to enhance the safety of rotational atherectomy.
- Further research may explore optimizing temperature parameters for RA procedures.
Abstract:
Rotational atherectomy (RA) is an effective, mature, and specific treatment for calcified lesions. However, the incidence of RA-related myocardial injury remains high and has not been adequately addressed. To assess the safety and efficacy of low-temperature RA-flush solution versus room-temperature RA-flush solution during RA. A total of 132 patients with moderate-to-severe calcified lesions who underwent RA were randomly assigned to the low-temperature RA-flush solution group or the room-temperature RA-flush solution group. The primary endpoint was RA-related myocardial injury, defined as any increase in myocardial biomarkers within 72 h after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Secondary endpoints included RA-related myocardial infarction (MI), RA-related transient slow/no flow, or transient coronary spasm. A total of 78 patients (59.1%) had increased cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels, and 60 patients (45.5%) had increased creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) levels after PCI. The number of patients with myocardial injury (primary endpoint), defined as elevated cTnI (47.0% vs. 71.2%, p = 0.005) or elevated CK-MB (28.8% vs. 62.1%, p < 0.001), was significantly lower in the low temperature group than in the room temperature group. The number of patients with RA-related transient slow/no flow (6.1% vs. 34.8%, p < 0.001) and transient coronary spasm (9.1% vs. 25.8%, p = 0.012) (secondary endpoints) was significantly lower in the low temperature group than in the room temperature group; no significant difference in the incidence of RA-related MI was observed between the two groups. Compared with room-temperature RA-flush solution, low-temperature RA-flush solution is associated with reduced RA-related myocardial injury in patients treated with RA.Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT03701230; first submitted registration date: 09/10/2018.
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